Grain grader



Feb. 9, 1943. AG. E. MORSE GRAINGRADER Filed Dec. 2, 1940 2 SheetsLSheet 1 Wb. Nm

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Feb. 9, 1943.

G. E. MORSE GRAIN GRADER Filed Dec. 2, 1940 2 Sl'reets-Shee'f.l 2

Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNIT zeig? rArsNr rica This invention relates to material handling equipment in the nature of a grain grader and the primary object is the provision of means for separating grains of corn to the end that kernels of ,predetermined given sizes may be collected in individual containers and used or sold in accordance with the size and quality thereof.

It is well-known in the art of growing, separating and selling hybrid corn that the value thereof lies in effectively segregating grains of desired size and quality and that heretofore, such separation has not been complete nor as efcient as possible. One of the important aims of this invention therefore, is to provide a grain grader for corn that is portable, inexpensive, has screens of interchangeable character, and is equipped with a screen housing of unique design, the supports for which are yieldable in nature to permit moving the housing through a continuous mechanism which is exceptionally light and cheap to operate.

One of the important objects of the instant invention is the provision of a grader of the aforementioned character that has a series of inclined screens, all removably disposed within a housing and each positioned with respect to a hopper for the purpose of sifting the corn and pitching grains of a predetermined size, upwardly along the inclined surface of the screens into the hopper in a continuous operation as the grain is fed into the screen housing at the top.

A further aim of this invention is to provide a grain grader of the aforementioned character having as important elements thereof, a number of vertically spaced, inclined screens, beneath each of which is positioned an apron, the angle of inclination of which is substantially greater than the angle of the overlying screen in order that the force exerted to cause the action to transport certain of the grains upwardly along the screen, is not of such magnitude as to overcome the action of gravity employed to draw grains passing through the screen downwardly along the underlying inclined apron.

Further objects of this invention will appear during the course of the following specication, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational View of a grain the upper portion of the screen housing, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. Sand loolzingin'thedif rection of the arrows.

Fig. is another cross sectional view taken on line Vf-V of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View through the veccentric drive member, taken on line VI-VI grader made to embody the present invention.`

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the screen' housing.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross Sectional view through elliptical path through the medium of driving s ventire assembly from plate-t`o-place. .Frame and base, 8 and lil respectively, are preferably formed of angle ironswith braces l2, I li and I6 provided to insure rigidity.

This frame is of the open box like type within which is mounted for free vertical and horizontal movement, the screen housing, generallyfdesignated by the numeral I8. This housing is likewise constructed of angle iron'members 20,'be-

tween which is mounted a number of spaced apart planks 22 providing opposed grooves 2d within which are 'slidably arrangedy frames 26 that carry screens" 28. These screens 28 are of conventional character and the apertures thereof, progressively decrease in cross sectional area as the lowermost screen is approached.

In addition to planks 22 that form the side walls of screen housing I8, spaced apart sheeting 30 closes the'front side of housing I8 and a wall 32 closes the rear thereof.

Wall 32 has a number of outlet openings 34 provided therein to receive the ends of flexible conduits 36 throughwhich passes the graded material. Conduits 36 are eachV in communication lwith a hopper 38 formed within housing I8 adjacent to wall 32 and set olf by partitions 4B and inclined floors 42. Floors 42k converge as the opening 34 and conduit 35 is approached in a manner shown in Fig, 5.A

Each of the several vertically spaced apart substantially parallel screens. 28 terminates `vat the upper part of a hopper 38, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, when material is bounced upwardly along a screen 28, it will be transported directly into the adjoining hopper to be carried out through conduit 36. n

.Underlying each screen 28 is an inclined `apron '44, the upper end of which is secured to partition x40 while the lower'end is disposed a short `distance from'the front'wall ofthe screen housing.

The angle of inclination of aprons 44 is greater than that of screens 28 and as grains of material fall through the overlying screen 28 onto apron 44, the action of gravity will draw such grains downwardly to be dumped upon the screen next below.

The lowermost apron 44 terminates at slot 46 formed across the bottom of the front wall of the housing. Obviously, the very small grains of material being treated and the chai will migrate to the lowermost apron 44 and pass outwardly from housing I8 through trough 48.

Housing I8 is uniquely supported and disposed for relatively free movement through an elliptical path of travel. The manner of supporting the housing is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprises a path of opposite main supporting springs 50 depending from the upper member of frame 8 and secured to the lowermost part of housing I8 through the medium of link 52'. Spring U is heavy enough to carry the load which slightlyextends this spring when the grader is in operation.

A spring 50 is on each side of housing I8 and at the center of gravity when the housing is tilted at the angle illustrated in Fig. 2.

A stabilizing spring 54 at each corner of housing I8 extends diagonally outwardly from each corner to a point of attachment with frame 8. In the case of l(he two upper front springs, brackets 56 are used because the width of frame 8 may thereby be reduced. Obviously, the frame may be extended to eliminate the employment of such brackets.

Stabilizing springs 54 yieldably maintain the housing in the position shown and the force thereof exerted upon the housing while the drive means is in operation, is such as to assist the movement of the housing through a path of travel which will exert a pitching action on the grains to move them upwardly along the screens 28.

The drive means in this form of the invention is a motor 58 mounted upon base I0 and joined to an eccentric by a belt 60. This eccentric is carried by an adjustable bracket 62 on the bottom of housing I8. Through such bracket, the tension of belt 60 may be varied.

The eccentric may be of known type and should comprise a shaft 64 journalled in bearings G6 and keyed to a rotor 68, as shown in Fig. 6. This rotor 68 is disk shaped and shaft 64 passes eccentrically transversely therethrough.

Case I0 mounted directly upon bracket 62 through the medium of machine bolts 12, contain rotor 68 and a cap 14 completes the operative assembly.

It has been found in actual practice, that the employment of springs 50 and 54 will assist the action of the eccentric because of the freedom of movement and retrieving tendencies of stabilizing springs 54. The degree of throw is not great enough to overcome the action of gravity on the materials passing downwardly along inclined aprons 44 but suilcient to move the grains larger than those passing through the openings of any particular screen, upwardly therealong and into the hopper.

Conduits 36 lead to sacks or desirable containers wherein is collected the corn of various sizes and grades.

A grader of the character just described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings has been in actual commercial use for a period of time and found to be more efficient than any now available on the market. The corn is more accurately graded and the through-put is appreciably increased over graders of like size.

It is understood that machines having physical characteristics different than those shown and described might be constructed without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a grain grader of the character described, a housing; yieldable means supporting said housing for free vertical and horizontal movement; a plurality of vertically spaced inclined screens in the housing each respectively terminating at its upper end at the edge of an open top hopper; an inclined apron beneath each screen respectively for conveying material to the lowermost part of the screen next below, said aprons being more steeply inclined than the screens; and means for moving said housing through an endless, vertical path of travel with sufcient force to pitch all of the material being graded and incapable of passing through the respective screens upwardly along the screens and into the hoppers as the material passing through the screens is moved downwardly by the action of gravity along the aprons.

2. In a grain grader of the character described, a housing; yieldable means supporting said housing for free vertical and horizontal movement; a plurality of vertically spaced inclined screens in the housing each respectively terminating at its upper end at the edge of an open top hopper; an inclined apron beneath each screen respectively for conveying material to the lowermost part o1" the screen next below, said aprons being more steeply inclined than the screens, and means for moving said housing through an endless, vertical path of travel with suiiicient force to pitch all of the material being graded and incapable of passing through the respective screens upwardly along the screens and into the hoppers as the material passing through the screen is moved downwardly by the action of gravity along the aprons, said screens each being mounted on a frame slidably carried by the housing.

3. In a grain grader of the character described, a housing; yieldable means supporting said housing for free vertical and horizontal movement; a plurality of vertically spaced inclined screens in the housing each respectively terminating at its upper end at the edge of an open top hopper; an inclined apron beneath each screen respectively for conveying material to the lowermost part of the screen next below, said aprons being more steeply inclined than the screens; and means for moving said housing through an endless path of travel with suicient force to pitch all of the material being graded and incapable of passing through the respective screens upwardly along the screens and into the hoppers as the material passing through the screens is moved downwardly by the action of gravity along the aprons, said hoppers each having an outlet conduit and walls converging toward said outlet conduit to direct material toward the conduit.

4. In a grain grader of the character described, a housing; yieldable means supporting said housing for free vertical and horizontal movement; a plurality of vertically spaced inclined screens in the housing each respectively terminating at its upper end at the edge of an open top hopper; an inclined apron beneath each screen respectively for conveying material to the lowermost part of the screen next below, said aprons being more steeply inclined than the screens; and means for moving said housing through an endless path of travel with sufficient force to pitch all of the material being graded and incapable of passing through the respective screens upwardly along the screens and into the hoppel's as the material passing through the screens is moved downwardly by the action of gravity along the aprons, said housing having a supporting spring on each side thereof serving as a hanger therefor.

5. In a grain grader of the character described, a housing; yieldable means supporting said housing for free vertical and horizontal movement; a plurality of vertically spaced inclined screens in the housing each respectively terminating at its upper end at the edge of an open top hopper; an inclined apron beneath each screen respectively for conveying material to the lowermost part of the screen next below, said aprons being more steeply inclined than the screens, and means for moving said housing through an endless path of travel with sufficient force to pitch all of the material being graded and incapable of passing through the respective screens upwardly along the screens and into the hoppers as the material passing through the screens is moved downwardly by the action of gravity along the aprons, said yieldable means including a stabilizing spring at each corner of the housing and a supporting spring on each of two opposite sides of the housing.

6. In a grain grader of the character described, a housing; a plurality of springs supporting the housing for free movement through an endless, vertical path of travel; motor driven structure for so moving the housing; a plurality of removable frames mounted in the housing, each having a screen bottom inclined upwardly and rearwardly from one side of the housing; an open top hopper formed in the housing adjacent to the uppermost edge of each screen respectively to receive material from the screens; a discharge conduit leading from each hopper respectively; and an inclined apron rigidly secured to the housing beneath each screen respectively, said aprons being positioned beneath the screens, inclined more steeply than the screens and being shorter than the screens to convey by gravity material dropping thereon from the screen thereabove toward the lowermost portion of the screen therebeloW.

7. A grain grader as set forth in claim 6, wherein the apertures of the screens progressively decrease in size as the lowermost screen is approached.

GUY E. MORSE. 

